Bayan News – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its annual report has described the situation of religious minorities in Afghanistan as concerning, stating that the Taliban continues to restrict minorities.
The annual report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom was released on Wednesday (August 7), and the report expressed concern that the state of religious freedom for religious groups in Afghanistan is deteriorating.
In its report, the commission accused the Taliban of violating religious freedoms and called on the international community and the US government to impose sanctions on the responsible Taliban officials.
According to the report, in 2023 the Taliban severely restricted individual freedoms and the rights of religious minorities, particularly women, Shiites, Sikhs, and Christians, and this trend has continued with full intensity over the past three years.
The report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom also referred to the religious ceremonies of the Shiites, stating that in the current year, the religious freedom of the Shiites had been severely restricted.
ISIS Attacks Against Shiites
The report also addressed the ISIS threats against the Shiite community in Afghanistan, stating that the Khorasan branch of ISIS has continued its attacks against Shiite minorities.
While the report highlighted the ISIS threats, no security incidents occurred during Shiite religious ceremonies this year.
Meanwhile, Taliban forces had arrested nearly 40 ISIS members in Kabul before they could carry out attacks.
Furthermore, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom highlighted the role of the Taliban’s Ministry of Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice in enforcing the Taliban’s discriminatory decrees, noting that the Taliban publicly flogs individuals accused of moral crimes.
The commission has called on the US government to sanction Taliban officials responsible for serious violations of religious freedoms and to freeze their assets.
The commission also stated that the Taliban arrested several journalists, women’s rights activists, and members of religious minorities last year.
The interim Taliban government has not yet responded to this report.
However, over the past three years, the Taliban has consistently rejected these reports, insisting that Afghanistan is the common home of all and that no restrictions have been placed on religious minorities and ethnic groups in the country.
